After a year of turbulence Rowe set to leave Today

MEDIA all-rounder Lisa Wilkinson is understood to be the number
one candidate to replace Jessica Rowe following Nine's imminent
announcement that Rowe is leaving Today.

Wilkinson's manager John Fordham denied the Channel Seven
Weekend Sunrise co-host had signed contracts with Nine but
confirmed that she had been in discussions with the network "for
some time" about a role.

"Channel Seven executives Peter Meakin and Adam Boland have been
aware for some time that we are in discussions with Nine about some
opportunities there but Meakin is also aware that we have been, for
the past six to eight weeks, considering another opportunity not
related to television that will take Lisa forward in her career,"
Mr Fordham said.

Nine was yesterday close to brokering a deal in which Rowe will
be paid handsomely to quit.

Rowe has for some months been involved in a cat-and-mouse game
with network executives who have been forced to deal with the
star's reluctance to return to the program following the birth of
her first child.

Having joined Nine at the start of 2006 following a bitter legal
dispute with her former employer, Network Ten, Rowe 11 months ago
became embroiled in an embarrassing public relations controversy
that threatened her career and that of Nine chief executive Eddie
McGuire when a departing Nine staff member, via affadavit, claimed
McGuire had wanted to "bone" (or sack) Rowe from the show.

SPONSORED LINKS

1177788464825-smh.com.auhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/after-a-year-of-turbulence-rowe-set-to-leave-today/2007/05/05/1177788464825.htmlsmh.com.auThe Sun-Herald2007-05-06After a year of turbulence Rowe set to leave TodayAnnette SharpEntertainmentTvRadiohttp://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/05/05/rowe7507_narrowweb__300x449,0.jpg